A Reflection on the Films of Johann Schwarzer.
It's not every day you can sit down and watch the entire existing body of work of a prolific director. Today, I managed to do that with Johann Schwarzer, the Austrian director of nudie films. In their day, these would have been wildly scandalous softcore pornography, while today they simply play like strange little views into a different time and place. Apparently, Schwarzer was very proud of his films, insisting they were…
Being wholly unfamiliar with the lore of "Cutie Honey" made this pretty indecipherable, which is sad considering how simple it is. Maybe not the best entry-point for this franchise.
The Films of Chantal Akerman
I knew this was autobiographical, but didn't realize how autobiographical it was until just a few moments from the end (when "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" by James Brown starts playing off of a record). A superb gut punch that somehow caught me wholly off guard, despite just how familiar I've become with Akerman as a filmmaker.
This is among her best works, and it's easily one of her breeziest and most accessible. At…
The Films of Chantal Akerman
I've had this one hanging over my head for a while. I knew this wouldn't be my speed, that I would struggle with it. I'll admit that I drifted in and out of it. Nevertheless, Akerman's style is on full display in this, as she shows us a slow, probing look at daily life in post-Soviet life. Not an easy watch by any means. But it's full of great faces and images (as are all…
Bravo, Marty.
This is gonna need some time for reflection, and maybe [edit: definitely] another watch. But it’s basically the culmination of Scorsese’s entire career, even if it isn’t his best film (and that’s the part I’m not sure on yet).
I sobbed in the back of the theater. Heartbreaking.
